Ascot Friday Preview

With us finding the first race of the day to tough to call, we move straight onto the 2 mile 3 furlong maiden hurdle and we fancy the Nicky Henderson trained Fred.

The four year old is having his second for the yard coming over from France for the new season and he looks a highly credible recruit with three seconds in a row to end his campaign last season.

He has raced predominantly on soft to a good standard and could be even better with good in the description and on his seasonal debut he made an eye-catching start with a decent third.

Big claims.

The Join Kim Bailey Racing Introductory Hurdle over two miles looks a very competitive contest and we like the look the Colin Tizzard trained Master Debonair.

The five year old was a very smart bumper horse last season landing a nice Listed contest at Cheltenham beating the smart hurdler Thyme Hill.

He tailed off in the Champion Bumper at the festival but was a decent fifth at the Grand National meeting and looked to be an exciting horse to go hurdling with.

On his first start over obstacles he was a good second at Cheltenham at the October meeting and should come on for that run in this.

The Class 2 Handicap Chase over 2 miles 5 furlongs again is another tough betting race but we believe we have found a nice gem in the way of Jonjo O'Neill's Sky Pirate.

The six year old gelding has been an up and down performer for the most part of his career but we believe he is due some good luck and if staying on his feet has a huge chance.

He has been going well in nice contests when falling or being bought down, especially in his last race when looking sure to mount a challenge before falling.

Jonjo O'Neill Jnr is on board who always rides well for his father and should finally get the best out of this gelding.

The final race of the first day from Ascot is the Class 2 Handicap over two miles and Speed Company for Ian Williams will be tough to beat despite the rise in the weights.

This six year old has been superb for the last few seasons mixing between hurdles and the flat only finishing outside the top three on two out of his last 13 races.

He is a highly consistent runner that made his seasonal debut at Chepstow in October and romped to victory which sees him nine pounds higher today but should be able to cope with it.